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Scary, scary story of a possible dystopian future. I started reading it in the bath and it captivated me so much that I didn't get out until I'd finished; I just couldn't move from it. Definitely read it.

The first half of the book is wonderful. The descriptions are rich and vivid as Smith takes his time to slowly unravel their stories. The pace is perfect. As the characters age, though, Smith spends less and less time exploring their psyche until eventually the book writes more or less as a factual listing of events. I wish he'd kept the slow, easy pace throughout - of course given the already hefty size of this book it probably would have meant splitting it in two. As it is, though, I felt a bit cheated when I reached the end. Nevertheless it's a great read, and I'll pick up the others in the Ancient Egypt series at some point.

A friend loaned me his copy of the book at a very significant time in my life. It became a friend on lonely nights, a beacon, a pick-me-up and a companion. Even if you don't agree with the principles therein, it's a lovely read filled with a range of heartfelt emotions; a real inspirational tale.